News
Wild stars of Autumnwatch swoop into Slimbridge
Like many big stars they kept us waiting but this morning the first Bewick’s swans touched down at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre. The much-loved swans return each year after spending the summer in Arctic Russia. They are due to play a major role in the
28 October 2011
Migration news from Castle Espie
Pale bellied Brent, having arrived in record numbers to Strangford this year, are now continuing their journey southwards, refuelled and ready for their next stopover. With a recent drop of 15,000 geese, this week's count was similar to the previous one
28 October 2011
Beaver catch - night 4
Last night I set the traps at 4.30 - 5pm. I had the night off (woohoo) so Julia checked them at 8pm and there wasn't anything in the traps but they were swimming around. At Midnight Mum and the kit from the first night had been caught. They where scanned
28 October 2011
First redpoll of the season
A cold but sunny start to the day on the fence check. As I walked along the river footpath, a loose group of 18 cormorant flew overhead on their way south. Yesterday, the first lesser redpolls of the autumn were noted feeding in the alder trees along the
28 October 2011
Out on the reserve today
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28 October 2011
Today's sightings - tons of teal!
Wader Lake AM mid tide: Teal 136 Wigeon 3 Lapwing 15 Common snipe 3 Mallard 51 Hawthorn Wood feeding station: Nuthatch 1 Great-spotted woodpecker 3 Willo [...]
28 October 2011
Bird News
A Willow Tit, presumably the bird which is normally seen in front of the Janet Kear hide was on the In Focus feeder this morning, but moved back to it's usual haunt later in the day. A Kingfisher [...]
28 October 2011
Wildlife sightings for 28th October 2011
42 Wigeon - main lake, sheltered lagoon 2 Stonechat - male and female, edge of grazing marsh 3 Cetti's Warbler - all singing: wildside, waterlife, sheltered lagoon Additiona [...]
28 October 2011
New Sighting Title
Rushy Bewicks Swan 3 Pochard 70 Pintail 45 Zeiss Hide Best birding here: Teal 480 Wigeon 70 Shoveler 58 Avocet 1 Golden Plover 25 Black Tailed Godwit 75 Redshank 5 Gree [...]
28 October 2011
Migrant mile-eaters: long-distance flyers about to touch down
A kingfisher has flown more than 620 miles from Poland to Suffolk to escape harsh weather. Its migration has beaten the 603-mile record for a British kingfisher, set by a bird which flew from Pembrokeshire to northern Spain. The new record holder was foun
27 October 2011
Beaver catch - night 3
Yesterday I set the traps at 5pm before heading home. Julia, our Grounds Manager, was still around so she checked them in case of Moorhens. At 8pm we hadn’t managed to catch any, but they were out of the lodge. I came back at midnight and we had caught
27 October 2011
Caerlaverock Update
Right guys, HELLO!! My first post from Caerlaverock so here goes....right migration... Well where to start! The Barnacle Geese numbers here have been growing over the last few weeks with numbers on the reserve reaching a high of 13,800. I know your all th
27 October 2011
Out on the reserve today
All these sightings were from the reserve during the swan's awake event this morning, which despite the weather offered great viewings of over 1000 swans taking off from the roosting areas to fly [...]
27 October 2011
Wildlife sightings - first redpoll of the autumn season
Wader Lake AM mid-low: Teal 52 Mallard 9 Shoveler 1 Redshank 3 Lapwing 3 Tufted duck 1 Wader Lake footpath: Redpoll 2 (first of the autumn season) Siskin [...]
27 October 2011
Bird News
Over 10,000 Pink-footed Geese on the reserve today, along with around 500 Whooper Swans providing the big numbers, but a good selection of other birds was recorded. These included over 50 Ruff, a sing [...]
27 October 2011